Tramore Athletic FC who in 2008 celebrated its sixtieth anniversary, one of the top amateur clubs in the country, owes their very existence to a string of controversial circumstances in 1947. Evergreen FAI Junior Cup winners in 1936 who after graduating to Munster Senior Football won the League in ’37 folded through lack of numbers, like many other clubs, following the outbreak of WW2. Evergreen reformed in 1946 when they entered minor and junior teams and had a runaway success in the Minor Shield. Then came a split which rocked the club to its foundations resulting in the majority of the underage players leaving. Evergreen were given three weeks to register new players so that they could continue their revival while the breakaway group, including players from Turner’s Cross, Douglas and Blackrock, decided to form a new team.

As the Tramore River was a common link with those three localities Tramore Athletic was the name chosen by the founders. They were formed at a gathering in the doorway of O’Connell’s Corner House Pub (Turner’s Cross Tavern) by John O’Sullivan, Mossie Cronin, Des Doherty, Leonard Gould and Michael Dwyer. They were too late to affiliate for the 1947-48 season which had already commenced. But, fortuitously, in October 1947 they were thrown a life-line when Munster Minor Cup holders Rock Rangers surprisingly withdrew from the league and Tramore were accepted to fill the vacancy. At the end of their debut season Tramore suffered a huge setback as most of those still eligible for youth football, including Patons Keating (later Sheff Utd) and Bunny Horgan, returned to Evergreen and helped them win the FAI Minor Cup. When they resumed for the 1948-49 campaign Jerry O’Brien was Tramore’s only survivor from the inaugural season.
c. For four years they offered gallant resistance to teams like Glasheen, Tower Rovers, Collins’ and Crofton before eventually, amidst joyous scenes, claiming their first ever trophy the 1954 U14 League. Frankie McCarthy, one of Tramore’s and the Schoolboys’ Leagues greatest products, was a member of that victorious team. Tony Murphy (later Chairman of the MSL) and Micky Sheehan, both life time members of the club, also won medals that year. Tramore quickly made up lost ground and by the time the CSL celebrated its 21st birthday they overtook Glasheen and Tower to top the all-time honours list. Frankie McCarthy, capped against Wales in 1955, became the clubs first international in any grade and in the following years dozens of Tramore lads joined that illustrious list.

Tramore gained national prominence in 1958 when they recorded an unexpected win over Johnville (Dublin) at Turner’s Cross. The final was brought forward to 12. 0 clock to avoid a clash with a Crazy Ball game at the Mardyke. A crowd of over 1,000 paid 2 shillings or sixpence if you claimed to be under 18. The roar which greeted Connie Moloney’s first minute goal for Tramore drowned out the toll of the Angelus bell and could have been heard by the majority of parishioners who were attending last mass at a thronged Christ The King Church. There was no loitering after Mass that Sunday as the men folk hurried the 100 yards up Curragh Road to the pitch where officials who expected late arrivals charged half- price (one shilling) to watch the second half. Tramore now had a few hundred extra voices roaring encouragement and they responded in great style by outplaying the neat Dubs. Tony Wilson’s cracker in the 60th minute put the seal on a famous victory after which Tramore, with Noel O’Mahony dominant, easily contained Johnville’s best efforts.

Encouraged by the national success Tramore kept a junior team in the AUL but wisely afforded the graduating youths the opportunity of playing at a higher grade by joining the Munster Senior League in 1959. At that level they progressed to become one of the most successful clubs in the country contesting seven FAI Intermediate Cup finals with outright victories recorded in 1979, 1981 and 1986. That was a golden decade for the Turner’s Cross lads as they also won the FAI Youths Cup in 1980 and ’82. Dave Barry starred on the side which beat Home Farm in 1980 while Kieran O’Regan played in both finals and scored in the 3-0 victory over Athlone. Kieran went on to become the first former Tramore player to gain full international honours when capped against Malta in 1984 and subsequently was honoured on three further occasions.

"The success of the Cork Schoolboy's League is not attributed to any one particular individual, but to the Committees that run the league." said Leonard Gould in a newspaper interview back in 1980 after having retired from the administrative side of the game ending 32 consecutive years on its management committee. Of course the statement was typical of the modest, unassuming silversmith who had donated almost a lifetime to soccer.

Leonard was a founder member of the committee which also included Con Elliot, Jack Cooke, Kevin Dillon, Albert Conboye and Neil Welsh. I am singing Leonards song when stating that the late Jack Cooke was the greatest administrator in the history of Cork Schoolboy Soccer but Leonard himself was acknowledged as being the jewel in the crown. In his younger days he played soccer with Greenmount Rangers and Tramore Athletic at junior level but it was on the administrative side of the game that he made his niche. He was the first secretary of Tramore and held the position of chairman of the Cork Schoolboys League on six occasions becoming the first person to hold the post for three consecutive years. Leonard was first elected chairman in 1972 and was re-elected in 76-77 and 78. During those years he was also a member of the International Schoolboys Selection Committee.

It was during his Chairmanship that Ireland first travelled to compete in Europe and youngsters journeyed to France, Germany and Holland to represent their country. Cork's representation on Irish teams improved during Leonard's reign but he was at pains to pointing out that "the function of a selector is to pick the best eleven regardless of the locality a boy comes from", which is the way it should always be.

In his retirement Leonard is still a regular supporter of all Tramore teams and rarely misses a Cork City tie at Turner's Cross. (Article courtesy of Plunkett Carter)